. >> we have massive deficit, big tax increase. no apparent willingness to get government off people's backs by reducing government spending. all of that is a heavy weight on the private sector. firms around the nation are sitting on their cash instead of creating jobs. >> on wednesday, the commerce department announced economic growth fell to a minus tenth of a percent, the last three months of last year. so the chairman of the president's council of economic advisors says other indicators remain positive. >> consumer spending increased. business investment; particularly, for equipment and software was strong. residential construction was strong. we are seeing signs of that in the jobs report. >> it also showed a larger number of people dropped out of the labor force than found jobs. former administration economist says some of that is to be expected. >> the population is aging, so we expect to have a fair number of people retiring every month for the next ten years or more as the baby boom is retiring. >> actually, the conference